DEHRADUN: Rugby wasn’t meant to find its way to the rugged lanes of rural Uttarakhand, where traditions are deeply rooted and opportunities, particularly for women, often fall through the crevasses. Yet, breaking barriers, young women from modest backgrounds are rewriting their destinies — with the grit needed for a scrum — to make a name for themselves in the hard sport.
Shivani Pal, 21, from Roorkee’s Puhana village knows what it’s like to face resistance head-on. As the eldest of six siblings, she watched her dad ferry construction material on a bullock cart, a job that kept the family afloat but spared little to pursue dreams. Then rugby happened — her tryst with the game taking shape five years ago when she stumbled upon a Telugu movie, Sye.
‘Villagers mocked me for wearing shorts, said rugby isn’t for girls’
That odd pill-shaped ball caught my eye. Later, I saw a friend’s reel and couldn’t help but ask questions. She introduced me to her coach, and soon I was on the state team,” Shivani told TOI.
What followed wasn’t a smooth, unhindered trot to the touchline; it was a bruising grapple. “People in my village mocked me for wearing shorts and said rugby was not for girls,” Shivani said. “Some even tried to pressure my family to stop me.” But she held her ground with the fortitude of a dogged forward. Her parents stood by her side, turning a deaf ear to the critics. Over time, she not only played in two national tournaments but also founded her own rugby club, training young girls from nearby villages. “I want these girls to dream bigger,” she said. “This sport has given me purpose, and I want others to experience the same.”
Assistant coach Anisha Khural says the story of these young girls will inspire other women to break free from conventions and join the game
In Dehradun, Jasvinder Kaur’s journey to the pitch was more of a sidestep. The daughter of a street hawker, she had a name as a state-level long-jump athlete before rugby entered her life six months ago. “I heard about rugby from a teammate,” she said. “It was unlike anything I’d done before — the sheer physicality and teamwork excited me.” Jasvinder’s athleticism made her a natural fit for the sport, and she quickly secured a spot on the state team. And shone.
But like a player in a ruck, she faced her challenges. A collarbone injury during a match four months ago would have sidelined many, but not Jasvinder. “I didn’t let it red-card my ambitions,” she said with a smile. “My parents, with whatever meagre earnings they had, supported me through recovery and urged me to focus on trials for the National Games.” Her perseverance paid off, and now she’s eyeing gold for Uttarakhand.
Radhika, a 21-year-old from Roorkee, likens her entry into rugby to an unexpected kick-off. Introduced to the sport by her cousin, she found herself intrigued by its intensity. “At first, it was daunting,” she admitted. “But I couldn’t resist the challenge.”
With her mother, an anganwadi worker, cheering from the sidelines, Radhika quickly rose through the ranks, competing in two national tournaments within two years. “Rugby has taught me resilience,” she said. “The criticism from villagers didn’t faze me because my family was a like a solid defence line behind me.”
The newest recruit to the state rugby team is 20-year-old Anjali Saini from Haridwar’s Laksar. “I saw a video on social media and was immediately hooked,” she said, her enthusiasm palpable. Anjali’s parents, farmers by trade, supported her wholeheartedly but added a word of caution. “They worry about injuries,” she said.
Assistant coach Anisha Khural marvels at their tenacity. “Their stories will inspire women to break free from conventions and join the game.”